Printing ruler



July 14, 1964 F. M. PAPAROZZI PRINTING RULER Filed NOV. 6, 1961 .I m i m u m 0 V o w m E w P m W M M m M rm/fiuwa/ w 09 m m United States Patent ()fiice 3,14,548 Patented July 14, 1964 3,140,548 PRINTING RULER Frank M. Paparozzi, 164 Grove St, Lodi, NJ. Filed Nov. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 150,311 8 Claims. (Cl. 33-174) This invention relates to a novel educational and useful printing ruler and more specifically to a printing ruler comprising an elongated panel of a transparent material which has a plurality of indicia forming openings formed therein which may be utilized to guide a scribing device, pen or pencil or other marking tools in the forming of indicia such as letters of the alphabet.

While similar printing rulers have previously been provided and have been termed stencils, the indicia forming openings of the instant invention are positioned relative to each other in a manner specifically designed to greatly facilitate the use of the ruler as a stencil in forming indicia such as the letters of the alphabet.

The printing ruler is in the form of an upstanding elongated strip of transparent material provided with parallel opposite side edges and at least one straight upstanding row of indicia forming openings are formed therein along one side edge of the strip which is straight. The indicia forming openings are spaced slightly from the straight side edge of the ruler or strip a distance equal to the distance at which horizontally aligned indicia formed by means of the printing ruler are to be spaced apart. In this manner, proper spacing between horizontally aligned indicia formed by the printing ruler when used as a stencil may be readily achieved. The printing ruler is provided with a vertically disposed placement line which is aligned with the side edge portions of the indicia forming openings adjacent the straight edge of the ruler and in this manner the straight edge of the ruler may be positioned to lie along the side of the previously formed letter for properly positioning the next letter to be formed relative thereto.

The main object of this invention is to provide a printing ruler having a plurality of indicia forming openings formed therein which may be utilized as stencils for forming corresponding indicia and which are positioned relative to each other in a manner which will greatly facilitate proper positioning of the ruler adjacent the last formed indicia in order that the next indicia may be properly positioned relative to the last formed indicia.

'A further object of this invention, in accordance With the immediately preceding object, is to provide a printing ruler provided with means enabling a plurality of horizontally aligned rows of indicia to be properly spaced relative to each other when formed by using the ruler as a stencil. 7

A still further object of this invention is to provide a printing ruler including means for establishing reference points from which numerous geometric figures may be drawn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a printing ruler including means by which predetermined horizontal lines of letters or indicia may be accurately evaluated in length in order that headings and subheadings and the like may be properly centered on a workpiece.

A final object to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a printing ruler in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be, of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a'plan View of the printing ruler;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2-2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates the printing ruler of the instant invention which comprises an elongated strip of transparent material generally referred to by the reference numeral 12.

The strip 12 may be formed of any suitable material such as plastic and it will be noted that the opposite longitudinal side edges 14 and 16 are parallel and also that the end edges 18 and 20 are parallel. The side edge 14 is planar and a reference line 22 is formed on the strip 12 a distance spaced slightly inwardly of the side edge 14 which parallels the latter.

A first upstanding row of indicia forming openings 24 is formed in the strip 12 and the extreme right edge of each indicia forming opening 24 is disposed along a corresponding portion of the reference line 22.

Additionally, it will be noted that a second reference line 26 is formed on the strip 12 to the left of the first row of indicia forming openings 24 and it is to be noted that the reference line 26 corresponds to the second row of indicia forming openings 28 as does the side edge 14 to the first row of indicia forming openings 24. A third reference line 3t generally parallels the reference lines 22 and 26 and is disposed a spaced distance to the right of the reference line 26 a distance equal to the spacing of the reference line 22 from the side edge 14. The second row of indicia forming openings 28 have their left edges disposed along the reference line 30 and therefore it may be observed that any portion of the reference line 26 may be disposed along the right edge of an indicia previously formed for maintaining the proper distance of the next indicia to be formed by the corresponding portion of the second row of indicia forming openings 28.

The right marginal edge portion of the strip 12 has a scale generally referred to by the reference numeral 31 formed thereon which includes indicia indicating quarter inch intervals of spacing along the side edge 16. The scale indicia includes three-quarter inch interval lines 32 which extend entirely across the strip 12 and define the lowermost extremities of the corresponding indicia forming openings 24 and 23. The side edge 16 has a plurality 'of outwardly opening V-shaped notches 34 formed therein at quarter inch intervals from the upper end of the strip 12 to the four inch interval. It will be noted that the apices of every third notch lies in direct horizontal alignment with the corresponding three-quarter inch interval line 32. Additionally, the

scale indicia includes a reference line 36 which is spaced Additionally, a corresponding row of small diameter openings 4-2 are formed along the side edge 14 and are hori zontally aligned with the corresponding small diameter openings 38. It will be noted that some of the small diameter openings 38 and &2 lie upon opposite end portions of the three-quarter inch interval lines 32 and in this manner, it will be noted that proper vertical spacing of the indicia forming openings 24 and 28 may be obtained by using a pair of the small diameter openings 38 and 42 to form reference points along which the selected three-quarter inch interval line of the corresponding indicia forming openings 24 and 28 may be disposed.

Between the three and five inch interval graduations 40 and the reference line 36 and the side edge 14 of the strip 12 are formed three transversely spaced rows of three vertically aligned and equally spaced apertures 44. The apertures 44 of each vertically aligned row of apertures are horizontally aligned with the corresponding apertures in the adjacent vertically disposed rows of apertures 44- and accordingly it may be seen that by positioning the apertures 44 at evenly spaced intervals transversely of the strip 12 and at evenly spaced intervals longitudinally of the strip 12 numerous types of geometric figures may be laid out by using the apertures 44 to make reference points from which squares, triangles and rectangles may be drawn.

It may be noted from FIGURE 1 of the drawings that the indicia forming openings 24 and 28 are disposed upright when the strip 12 is disposed in an upstanding position. The vertical orientation of indicia to be printed and the uniform vertical spacing of the indicia forming openings 24 and 28 greatly facilitates the use of the strip 12 as a stencil. The letter forming or indicia forming openings 24 and 23 are placed in vertical positions so that a person printing does not have to move a stencil from side-to-side in selecting the letter to be printed. Additionally, the vertical positioning of the letter forming openings 24 and 28 greatly facilitates the proper positioning of one letter forming opening to the right of a previously formed letter inasmuch as the edge 14 and the reference line 26 define reference points which may be aligned with the extreme right hand edge of the previously formed letter in order to properly position the next letter to be formed relative thereto.

Because of the uniform vertical spacing of the letter forming openings 24 and 28 relative to each other, the three-quarter inch interval lines 32 may be utilized to accurately position one horizontally aligned row of letters relative to another.

The apertures 44 not only enable the user of the strip 12 to accurately lay out various types of geometric figures, but also enables the geometric figures to be laid out to be accurately positioned relative to a line of letters formed by the indicia forming openings 24 and 28 inasmuch as the apertures 44 are disposed at one inch intervals from each other. Accordingly, the apertures 44 may be properly positioned relative to any one of the threequarter inch interval lines 32 inasmuch as the uppermost apertures 44 lie along one of the three-quarter inch interval lines 32.

The small diameter openings 38 and 42 will greatly facilitate the forming of reference points between which lines may be drawn on a workpiece in order that one of the three-quarter inch interval lines 32 may be registered therewith to properly position subsequent letters to be formed.

The notches 34 formed in the upper portion of the side edge 16 may be utilized to more accurately position the strip 12 relative to a line drawn on a workpiece and the small diameter openings 38 may be utilized to measure the amount of space desired between printed lines to be formed by the strip 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A printing ruler comprising an upstanding elongated strip of transparent material having parallel opposite side edges, a first upstanding row of indicia forming openings formed in said strip spaced inwardly from a first one of said side edges, said openings being in vertical alignment, thereby enabling the use of said first side edge as a means for providing a consistent horizontal spacing between indicia formed by the use of said openings, a second row of similar type indicia forming openings parallel to and spaced from said first row, the openings of said second row being in vertical alignment, and a line formed on said strip parallel to the openings in the second row, said line being spaced therefrom a distance equivalent to the distance between said first edge and the first row of openings, thereby enabling the use of said line as a means for horizontally aligning indicia formed by the use of the openings in the second row consistently with the indicia formed by the first row.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the indicia formed consist of letters and symbols needed to effect a printed communication.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the lower edges of the correspondingly positioned openings in the parallel rows are in horizontal alignment, horizontal lines being formed on said strip in alignment with said lower edges.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a pair of opposite side upstanding rows of reduced openings formed in said strip with the openings of one row being horizontally aligned with corresponding openings of the other row, at least some of said horizontally aligned openings being disposed along said horizontal lines.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said strip has a plurality of small apertures formed therein disposed in three transversely spaced rows of vertically aligned and spaced apertures, corresponding ones of said vertically aligned apertures being horizontally aligned, and the apertures of each row thereof being spaced equally apart and a distance from the corresponding aperture of the adjacent row a distance equal to the vertical spacing of said apertures, at least one row of said apertures being disposed adjacent some of said indicia forming openings in a manner identical to the positioning of some of said reduced openings relative to the corresponding indicia forming openings.

6. The combination of claim 4 wherein said other side edge of said strip is provided with longitudinally equally spaced outwardly opening V-shaped notches each having their apex horizontally aligned with some of said horizontal lines.

7. The combination of claim 4 including a plurality of scale forming indicia formed on said strip along the other side edge thereof, said scale forming indicia including graduations disposed coinciding with at least some of said horizontal lines.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said reduced openings along said other side edge coincide with at least some of said graduations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 134,627 Harrison Dec. 22, 1942 D. 138,592 Gillette Aug. 22, 1944 1,170,174 Matson Feb. 1, 1916 1,899,318 Dixon Feb. 28, 1933 

1. A PRINTING RULER COMPRISING AN UPSTANDING ELONGATED STRIP OF TRANSPARENT MATERIAL HAVING PARALLEL OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES, A FIRST UPSTANDING ROW OF INDICIA FORMING OPENINGS FORMED IN SAID STRIP SPACED INWARDLY FROM A FIRST ONE OF SAID SIDE EDGES, SAID OPENINGS BEING IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT, THEREBY ENABLING THE USE OF SAID FIRST SIDE EDGE AS A MEANS FOR PROVIDING A CONSISTENT HORIZONTAL SPACING BETWEEN INDICIA FORMED BY THE USE OF SAID OPENINGS, A SECOND ROW OF SIMILAR TYPE INDICIA FORMING OPENINGS PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST ROW, THE OPENINGS OF SAID SECOND ROW BEING IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT, AND A LINE FORMED ON SAID STRIP PARALLEL TO THE OPENINGS IN THE SECOND ROW, SAID LINE BEING SPACED THEREFROM A DISTANCE EQUIVALENT TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID FIRST EDGE AND THE FIRST ROW OF OPENINGS, THEREBY ENABLING THE USE OF SAID LINE AS A MEANS FOR HORIZONTALLY ALIGNING INDICIA FORMED BY THE USE OF THE OPENINGS IN THE SECOND ROW CONSISTENTLY WITH THE INDICIA FORMED BY THE FIRST ROW. 